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The Root Cause Of Snoring

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The Root Cause Of Snoring

Snoring, when simply put, can be understood as harsh, unpleasant sounds from the nose or mouth that occur when breathing is partially obstructed while sleeping. Routine snoring can depend on numerous factors, such as the anatomy of the mouth and sinuses, alcohol consumption, allergies, a cold, one’s weight and their family’s medical history.

The following conditions are some of the root causes of a blocked airway that can thus cause snoring:

  • The anatomy of the mouth: Having a low, thick palate can narrow the airway. People who are overweight may have extra tissues in the back of their throats that may narrow their airways which results in snoring.
  • Alcohol consumption: Snoring can be brought about by consuming too much alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles and decreases your natural defences against airway obstruction which aids in snoring.
  • Nasal problems: Chronic nasal congestion or a crooked partition between your nostrils (deviated nasal septum) also contributes to snoring.
  • Sleep deprivation: Not getting enough sleep can lead to further throat relaxation that impacts breathing while sleeping and results in snoring
  • Sleep position: Snoring is typically most frequent and loudest when sleeping on the back as gravity affects the throat airway by narrowing it.

While most people snore every now and then, it can be chronic in some people and may be indicative of an underlying health problem. Hence, it is imperative to keep in mind that though snoring is common, it is not normal.

Chronic or excessive snoring is often associated with a common sleeping disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Not all who snore suffer from OSA, but if snoring is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, it may be an indication to consult a pulmonologist:

  • Experiencing pauses in breathing during sleep
  • Excessive daytime tiredness or fatigue
  • Troubled concentration
  • Headaches in the morning
  • Throat soreness post-awakening
  • Sleep disruptions or restlessness while sleeping
  • Gasping or choking at night during sleep
  • Increasing blood pressure
  • Pangs of chest pain at night
  • Loud snoring that disrupts the sleep of those around you
  • In children, it can be observed as poor attention spans, behavioural issues or poor performance in school

Visit a chest physician if you have any of the above symptoms. These may indicate your snoring is associated with OSA. If your child snores, consult their paediatrician about it. Nose and throat problems such as enlarged tonsils and obesity can often narrow a child’s airway, leading the child to develop OSA.

To treat your snoring, we usually suggest you address the following concerns that affect your lifestyle and lead to snoring:

  • Losing weight
  • Avoiding alcohol close to bedtime
  • Treating nasal congestion
  • Avoiding sleep deprivation
  • Avoiding sleeping on your back

 

To treat snoring accompanied by OSA, we may suggest:

  • Oral appliances: Oral appliances are form-fitting dental mouthpieces that help advance the position of your jaw, tongue and soft palate to keep your air passage open. If you choose to use an oral appliance, you’ll work with your dental specialist to optimize the fit and position of the appliance. You’ll also work with your sleep specialist to make sure the oral appliance is working as intended.
  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): This approach involves wearing a mask over your nose or mouth while you sleep. The mask directs pressurized air from a small bedside pump to your airway to keep it open during sleep. CPAP (SEE-pap) eliminates snoring and is most often used to treat snoring when associated with OSA. Many patients have testified that CPAP is the most reliable and effective method of treating OSA.
  • Upper airway surgery: There are a number of procedures that seek to open the upper airway and prevent significant narrowing during sleep through a variety of techniques. Depending on your condition, a physician will direct you to the one most suitable for you.

 

Do keep in mind the seriousness of the condition and the consequences of ignoring the aforementioned symptoms for long. Ensuring that you address your snoring can help avoid major health complications and risks and can lead to a better, healthier lifestyle.

Personally, as a chest and lung specialist, I urge people to take the initiative to get their routine check-ups in order. I follow a different approach for the purpose of encouraging people for the same and educating them about it by a character I came up with myself called ‘Mr. Snoro’. Mr. Snoro is jolly music composer but instead of composing melodies he composes different “snoros” (snores) in his victims’ noses. As a pulmonologist, I treat the victims of these snoring concerns so that they can then compose harmonious melodies instead.

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